The Daily Punch How Trump wants to blow up defense spending
Dec 10, 2025
Trump's push to reshape defense funding is causing a stir in Congress, igniting discussions around partisan divides in the military budget. Senators express concerns about the appropriations process and the impact on the NDAA. Meanwhile, the healthcare landscape looks grim with a lack of bipartisan support for crucial subsidy deals. The Fed's anticipated rate cuts raise questions about economic shifts ahead, leaving the GOP anxious about how this will play out in future elections.
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Reconciliation Threat To Bipartisan Defense
- The Trump administration floated using reconciliation to push defense funding partisan and bypass Democrats.
- That would reshape a historically bipartisan NDAA process and alarm senior senators across parties.
2026 Is A Narrow Window For Change
- Republicans may try reconciliation because 2026 could be their last clear chance to change defense policy before losing a chamber.
- Success depends on Republicans being able to pass reconciliation next year, which is uncertain.
Senate Leaders Push Back Strongly
- Senate defense leaders like Roger Wicker and Lisa Murkowski oppose using reconciliation for defense and prefer appropriations.
- This clash is both a turf war and an institutional-principle fight over who controls defense funding.